Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY8KFFX6ZWW4CA4YQDTEFMY

**Voice Sheet: Melanie & Hunter** Melanie: [soft, trembling, German, eyes wide with alarm] *"Ich... ich habe einen Mann gesehen. Er lag nicht mehr... lebendig. An der Uferpromenade. Gestern Nacht. Ich habe es... fotografiert."* [She clutches her camera tightly, flipping it to show the screen—a blurry nighttime photo of a figure face-down on the water’s edge, a discarded apple (from the festival) nearby.] Hunter: [frowning, leaning in, his tough marine bearing softening at the panic in her voice] *"Whoa, hey—slow down. You... you speakin’ German? I don’t know a lick of it. Did you just tell me someone’s dead? At the waterfront? When?"* [He leans closer, studying her face, and his own expression hardens. He’s heard faint whispers of disappearances, but this is the first concrete clue.] Melanie: [nodding, voice cracking, German urgent] *"Ja. Gestern. Ich war nach dem Festival fotografiert. Er lag da. Ich... ich habe keinen Anruf gemacht. Ich weiß nicht, was passiert ist."* [Tears spill over her cheeks; she covers her mouth, shoulders shaking.] Hunter: [his no-nonsense tone sharpening] *"Festival… the apple festival? You were out *after* the festival? That’s when?"* [He connects dots—stray young women, now a body? His radio buzzes; he silences it, jaw tight.] *"Melanie, this photo—do you remember who he was? A car? A name? Anything?"* Melanie: [shaking her head, clutching the camera to her chest, German broken by sobs] *"Nein. Ich konnte nicht… sehen. Nur, dass es kalt war. Seine Haare… schwarz. Ein rotes Hemd. Ich… ich konnte nicht schreiben."* [She taps her phone—German navigation app—and shows it to him, then points to the photo’s time stamp: 11:47 PM.] Hunter: [glancing at the phone, then back at her, a mix of resolve and concern] *"Good. That’s a start. Keep this camera on you—any more photos, *call* me. Now. Understand?"* [He fumbles for his wallet, pulls out a crumpled business card, and presses it into her hand. The text is in English, but he meets her eyes.] Melanie: [glances at the card, then up at him, her voice steadying slightly—relief, maybe, at being heard] *"Ja. Ich will."* [His radio crackles sharply: *"Detective, east woods. 911—another missing. Need you now."* He curses under his breath, shoving the radio back into his pocket.] Hunter: [rushing toward the door, pausing] *"I gotta go. But I’ll be back this afternoon. Stay safe—*keep that camera. Text me when you get this—wait, you don’t have my number, do you? I’ll send it when I can."* Melanie: [nods, her fingers brushing the card] *"Ja. Ich warte."* [He exits, the bell above the door jangling. Melanie stares at the card, then at the photo on her camera, her hands still shaking. The cafe bell rings again, but she doesn’t look up.] **END.**